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Introduction: Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the impairment of synaptic plasticity following cerebral ischemia, ultimately resulting in memory dysfunction. Hence, the applying antioxidant agents could be beneficial in managing memory deficits after brain ischemia. Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic with antioxidant effect. The main objective of this work was to assess the minocycline effect on the impairment of synaptic plasticity and memory after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods: Transient occlusion of common carotid arteries was used to induce ischemiareperfusion injury in rats. Single or multiple (once daily for 7 days) dose(s) of minocycline were administered before (pretreatment) or after (treatment) brain ischemia. Seven days after ischemia-reperfusion, passive avoidance performance, long-term hippocampal potentiation, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Results: The passive avoidance test showed that minocycline (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly increased step-through latency while reducing the duration of staying in a dark chamber in the treatment (but not pretreatment) group. In electrophysiological experiments, the rats treated (but not pretreated) with minocycline (40 mg/kg) showed a significant increase in the amplitude of the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the dentate gyrus area of the hippocampus. The treatment (but not pretreatment) with minocycline (20 and 40 mg/kg) resulted in a significant increase in the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the hippocampus. Conclusion: It was determined that minocycline attenuates memory dysfunction after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats by improving hippocampal synaptic plasticity and restoring antioxidant enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Prenatal hydronephrosis is found in 1%-5% of pregnancies. Without well-timed diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to irreversible outcomes. Because little information is available on the indication of Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) regarding the antenatal diameter of the kidney pelvis, the current study aimed to determine the association between prenatal hydronephrosis and the VUR. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2011 to 2016 on 200 neonates with hydronephrosis detected in fetal life ultrasounds in the third trimester of pregnancy. We assessed the prenatal and postnatal kidney ultrasonography of 400 kidneys and Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG). We employed the Spearman correlation coefficient for determining the association between study variables. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: Of 200 infants, 71.5% were males and 28.5% were females. No significant relationship was found between the degree of antenatal hydronephrosis and the VCUG severity (r=0.098, P=0.106). Despite antenatal hydronephrosis, the degree of postnatal hydronephrosis and the VCUG severity was correlated (r= 0.255, P=0.001). Conclusion: There is no correlation between the severity of fetal hydronephrosis and VUR severity or the presence of a greater correlation between postnatal hydronephrosis and degree of VUR. Thus in cases of mild prenatal hydronephrosis, we suggest urinary tract ultrasonography three to seven days after birth and then cystography if postnatal sonography showed moderate or severe or progressive hydronephrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP4/CD26) and Amino Peptidase N (APN/CD13) have essential roles in inflammatory diseases. The current study aimed to determine changes in APN and DPP4 enzyme activity in the serum and urine of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Materials and Methods: In the present study, female C57BL/6 mice were studied in two groups (control and EAE). Twenty-sevendays after induction, the enzymatic activity of APN and DPP4 in urine and serum samples was measured using a spectrophotometric assay. Results: The enzyme activity of DPP4 was higher in serum and urine of EAE mice than in the control group (mean in serum: 1.04 ± 0.13 pmol/mL and 0.80 ± 0.12 pmol/mL, respectively, P=0.015; mean in urine: 0.26 ± 0.04 pmol/mL and 0.19 ± 0.04 pmol/mL, respectively, P=0.015). However, the enzymatic activity of APN in serum and urine of mice with EAE when compared to the control group had no significant difference (mean in serum: 9.20 ± 1.15 unit/mL and 10.25 ± 1.21 unit/mL, respectively, P=0.132, mean in urine: 0.23 ± 0.27 unit/mL and 0.15 ± 0.05 unit/mL, respectively, P=0.310). Conclusion: The increased DPP4 activity along with normal APN activity in urine and serum samples can be used as an indicator to detect or follow up on the course of MS disease. Confirmation of this finding needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19, a new disease caused by the 2019‐novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2), has swept the world and challenged its culture, economy, and health infrastructure. Forced emergence to find an effective vaccine to immunize people has led scientists to design and examine vaccine candidates all over the world. Until a vaccine is developed, however, effective treatment is needed to combat this virus, which is resistant to all conventional antiviral drugs. Accordingly, more about the structure, entry mechanism, and pathogenesis of COVID‐19 is required. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the gateway to SARS‐CoV and SARS‐CoV‐2, so our knowledge of SARS‐CoV‐2 can help us to complete its mechanism of interaction with ACE2 and virus endocytosis, which can be interrupted by neutralizing small molecules or proteins. ACE2 also plays a crucial role in lung injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist (cGAMP) kills the cancer cells through the activation of the innate immune system. PC3 cells are high in BTK and low in STING. In this study, the effect of adding STING agonist, cGAMP, to docetaxel investigated. Materials and Methods: PC3 cells were treated with docetaxel, cGAMP, and a combination of the docetaxel and cGAMP. Cell toxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, and changes of STING, IRF3, BTK, and DDX41 genes' expression were quantified by the real-time PCR. STING protein was also detected by Western blotting. Results: The IC50 of docetaxel was 31.1 nM, and cGAMP did not change it significantly but decreased docetaxel toxicity about 30%. Docetaxel increased IRF3, BTK, and DDX41 gene expression significantly, and STING protein about 5 folds. By adding cGAMP to docetaxel STING, IRF3, and BTK, expression decreased several folds. Conclusion: In this in vitro study, cGAMP potentiated docetaxel's effects and alleviated it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the effects of nanofiber and film polymers with doxycycline for treating a wound in a diabetic rat model. 108 male rats were divided into six groups, the control group, the diabetic control, and the groups were diabetic rats receiving different wound dressing. At the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days, macroscopic/histologic imaging and tissue sampling were performed. Tissues were analyzed for IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, TIMP-1, and MMP-2 by using ELISA. Dressings of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and doxycycline increased the rate of wound closure, the volume of collagen, dermal, and epidermis. In addition, it increased the number of fibroblasts and basal cell epidermis cells, vascular length, and decreased the number of neutrophil cells. Inflammatory cytokines and MMP-2 were decreased, and anti-inflammatory IL-10 and TIMP-1 were increased. It was ultimately attained that the combination of chitosan/ polyvinyl alcohol /doxycycline could be a useful dressing for the healing of diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Neuropathic pain is a prevalent and debilitating neurological disorder. Ample evidence indicates that microglial cells and inflammatory cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Alpha-terpineol is a monoterpenoid alcohol with inhibitory effect on inflammatory cytokines. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of α-terpineol on neuropathic pain in rats. Materials and Methods: Chronic constriction injury (CCI) model was utilized to induce neuropathic pain in male Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into control, sham, α-terpineol, and gabapentin groups. Normal saline, α-terpineol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), and gabapentin (100 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally in the above-mentioned groups once daily for 14 days post-CCI. Behavioral tests, including Von Frey, acetone, and Hargreaves were used to assess mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, and hyperalgesia in rats. Iba1 immunostaining and ELISA procedures were used to assess the activation of microglial cells and inflammatory cytokines level. Results: The results showed that α-terpineol (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, and hyperalgesia in the neuropathic rats. The analgesic effect of α-terpineol (100 mg/kg) was comparable with that of gabapentin as a standard antineuropathic pain drug. In addition, α-terpineol (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased the number of Iba1-positive cells and diminished the concentration of IL-1β and TNF-α in the spinal tissue. Conclusion: It was ultimately attained that α-terpineol attenuates neuropathic pain through the suppression of the microglial cells and reduction of inflammatory cytokine levels in the spinal cord of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The present study investigated the prevalence of genes encoding for exotoxins, adhesion and biofilm factors in Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from samples in a referral burn hospital in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: S. aureus isolates obtained from patients, personnel and surfaces in the wards of a burn hospital were identified and confirmed by biochemical and molecular tests, respectively. The susceptibility of isolates was determined using the disk diffusion method. Virulence factors were detected by multiplex PCR. Results: The frequency of hla, hlb, hld, hlg, tst and pvl genes was 92.8%, 34.7%, 89.8%, 11.9%, 10.7%, and 0.5% respectively. The results revealed that the hla gene had the highest frequency among isolates (94.4% for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 89.8% for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA)). The most prevalent adhesion and biofilm-related gene was eno (85.6%). The prevalence of the remaining genes was as follows: fib (71.8%), clfB (70%), cna (59.2 %), fnbB (17.9%), icaA (72.4%), and icaD (85.6%). The incidence of fib, hlb, hlg, and tst genes was significantly higher in MRSA isolates compare to the MSSA isolates. Moreover, the resistance rates for all antibiotics were higher is MRSA isolates except for nitrofurantoin and chloramphenicol antibiotics. Conclusion: Data indicate the high prevalence rates of virulence factors among S. aureus isolates, especially MRSA strains in the burn hospital. This should to be taken into account in the development of an effective infection control policy and continuous monitoring of drug resistance in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Integrons, as a potential element in the distribution and maintenance of drug resistance, have thoroughly been established. It is known that the high prevalence of integrons in multidrugresistant (MDR) clinical isolates has become a serious public health concern. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of different classes of integrons in clinical isolates in Iran. Materials and Methods: Electronic global databases were systematically searched. The raw data for integrons among bacterial isolates were collected and their prevalence was analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2.0 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA) software. Results: In a comprehensive literature review, 29 eligible studies were determined with their metaanalyses indicating the prevalence of integron class 1 to be 41% (95% CI 36.3-46.1) and integron class 2 as 17.7% (95% CI 13-23.3) in Gram-negative bacteria. The highest prevalence of integron class 1 was reported in Acinetobacter spp (58%) while the highest prevalence of integron class 2 was reported in Shigella isolates (83.7%). The frequencies of class 1 integron in MDR (79%) and non-MDR isolates (41%) were higher than those for class 2 integron in MDR (13.4%) and non-MDR isolates (17.7%). Conclusion: The current systematic review demonstrated the significant presence of integrons among clinical isolates. Our analysis showed that measures such as estimates of the prevalence of this transposable element and diligence in continued surveillance might be necessary to prevent its spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]